Neptunas lose Betsafe LKL efficiency leader Palacios to Besiktas

After losing Arnas Butkevicius and Mindaugas Girdziunas to Lietuvos Rytas earlier in the month, Neptunas will be forced to look for even more reinforcements following the departure of Juan Palacios.

Turkish side Besiktas took advantage of the buy-out clause in the player's contract to scoop up the leader of the Klaipeda club, who was the top-ranked player in Betsafe LKL in terms of efficiency.

"We were not late on any payments. He received his salary on time, but there was a clause in his contract allowing him to leave to a foreign team for a fee," Neptunas sports director Donatas Zavackas explained.

Palacios averaged 15.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 steals in the Betsafe LKL and was at the top of the efficiency leaderboard with a ranking of 20.1 per game.

Neptunas are currently looking at the free agent market for worthy replacements in a number positions to fill the unexpected vacancies.